Lawmakers approve big-ticket projects

SANTA FE (KRQE) - State legislators have sent nearly $225 million worth of capital-outlay projects to the governor's desk.

The hope is the extra money will spur jobs, but it's unlikely every project will survive the governor's veto power.

Last year Gov. Susana Martinez was not kind to capital outlay vetoing $23 million in projects.

Democrats are hoping this year's bill, being called the New Mexico Works Act, holds up.

The bill includes a little less than $125 million in funding for projects like upgrades to several state prisons, university construction and a Spaceport America access road.

But there's also $100 million worth of projects lawmakers picked out individually.

Projects around the metro area include:

More than $200,000 for a jaguar exhibit at the BioPark zoo

Almost $500,000 for 13 new Albuquerque police department cruisers

$300,000 to patch up the rail yards

The Explora Center asked for nearly $3 million to expand and add new exhibits.  Lawmakers gave them $1 million instead.

Dixon apple orchard--destroyed during the Las Conchas fire and subsequent floods two years ago--wanted $1.9 for revitalization efforts on the state trust land.  It got just $90,000.

There isn't nearly enough money to go around for everyone's liking.  This year there was $1.4 billion dollars worth of projects requested.

Martinez has until nearly three weeks after the session ends on Saturday to slash any projects she doesn't like.